Favorite Fishing Areas of California

There is a cool poll going on at the California Trout Website that asks for your favorite fishing spot in California.  I’m susceptible to the Dunsmuir area what about you?  As of right this second 328 people have voted with the Eastern Sierra’s being the favorite. 

An Adventurous Fly Fisherman’s Dream

Hot damn!  I wonder if my wife would be pissed if I spent our savings on this fly fishing dream.

Fly Fishing Patents

A new service from Google allows you to search the United States Patent and Trademark Office for illustrations and documentation of previous patents.  There are some very interesting finds when it comes to fly fishing. 

• How about the easily assembling fly fishing reel patent posted on October 16, 1923 or the fly rod carrying case issued in 1933
• Orvis has 20 patents.

Most of the patents come with beautifully detailed sketches of the inventions like this one:

How to Make a Tapered Leader

I asked my mentor, long-time fly fisherman and writer for Sporting Clays, Richard Owen, on the best way to construct a tapered leader.  Here are the instructions.

1. If you can’t tie a nail knot, start with a very small loop in the end of your fly line, that won’t slip

2. Purchase 3 spools of tippet material in 15lb, 11 lb, and 4 and a half lb. strength.

3.  Cut a 3 ft. section of 15lb. material and make a small loop in one end, that won’t slip.  Attach the two loops together (fly line and 15 lb tippet material).

4. Cut a 3 ft. section of 11 lb. material and attach it to the 15 lb. section with opposing, improved clinch knots.

5.  Cut a 3 ft. section of 4 and a half lb. tippet material and attach it to the 11 lb section with opposing, improved clinch knots.  You now have a 9 ft. tapered leader which will “turn over” nicely on the cast and is ideal for normal trout fishing.

NOTE:  For large trout like steelhead, it’s better to go with a 6 ft. section of 11 lb. test and eliminate the 4 and a half lb.